ek: 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Nov. 4, 
rule of proportion, that Potter’s Manure would have pro- 
duced not 11, but 164 bushels of Potatoes. Thus I think 
I have shown that, without the explanation offered, the 
statement of the experiment as given by Sir Robert is 
calculated to operate to my disadvantage.— W”. H. Potter. 
Gooseberr: In the Chronicle of last year, at p. 
758, are given the weights of the heaviest Gooseberries 
grown that year, Subjoined is the weight of the heaviest 
six ineach class produced in 1843, so that a comparison 
may be made with those raised last year ; and your readers 
will find that they have grown larger this year than the 
last. Some new sorts have also appeared as leading kinds 
in size and weight; and it is now the season for plant- 
ing Gooseberries, so that they may strike root in their new 
situations before the frost sets in, which is very desirable. 
It has been this year proved that Gooseberries, when grown 
and trained against a wall, will increase their size, and 
acquire more the appearance of large and handsome 
Plums than Gooseberries, and it will also much improve 
their flavour, and make thew a more interesting fruit for 
the table. 
Rep. §|  Grenxs.} 
| 
mn 4| Thumper 
Wonderful 0\Peacoele 
Companion 5|Q. Victor: 
Invincible 
Bell’s Gift 
‘Turnout 
Lion’s Provid. 
ance 
Cong. Hero —'Catharine 
M, Saul. 
Weeds in Ponds.—Among the other interesting sub- 
jects in the Gardeners’ Chronicle of the 21st October, is 
an answer to a query on the means of keeping down weeds 
in ponds, by Mr. W. P. Ayres, Brooklands. His answer 
is, that “‘the most simple thing you can make use of to 
cut them with is a pair of swans;*’ and he instances the 
success of this scheme at Brooklands. I regret to say that 
80 very simple and pleasant a plan will not be found of 
universal application. In the grounds where I reside is 
a pond of an irregular oval shape, about 70 yards in length 
and 30 in breadth, a large proportion of which is occupied 
by two islands bearing beautiful evergreens and Weeping 
Willows, thereby materially curtailing the extent of water, 
much exceed one rood. Yet on this 
small extent of water four swans, all adults, are not able 
to keep down the weeds, apparently, to any sensible 
degree; for every autumn they accumulate to such.a 
thickness, that a small light boat can hardly pass over 
them, and they have to be cut over every year. There are 
a few circumstances which it may be proper to mention, in 
case they should constitute a difference from Mr, Ayres’ case. 
The pond is from three to four feet deep, and is main- 
tained by a very powerful spring, which keeps the water 
in it always clear and fresh. ‘The swans are fed every 
day with a lippic of oats (one-fourth part of a peck) and 
also with boiled potatoes, as long as that esculent lasts, 
and in consequence of receiving this food, along with the 
grass which they consume, they are remarkably large 
spirited birds, of fine plumage, except when moulting ; 
but I find that the feeding does not prevent them diving 
their necks in the water in quest of something, which they 
must obtain, otherwise they would not perseverein it as they 
do daily ; and, besides, the grass margin around the pond 
is so limited in extent) that it could not support them, 
except, perhaps, in the height of summer. It is possible 
that at that season they may neglect the weeds more than 
in the early part of the summer; but in answer to this 
suggestion, I would mention, that for once I see them 
out of the water grazing on the grass, I see them a dozen 
times in the water, plumbing their necks and even point- 
ing up their tails. Bald coots and water-hens also fre- 
quent the pond, as well as common ducks, all living in 
harmony. How fond the wild birds are of the boiled 
potatoes! If an effectual plan can be suggested for 
saving the trouble of cutting the dirty weeds every year, 
I would be thankful.—H. S., Edinburgh, Oct. 25. 
greater portion of them may, however, be grown to per- 
fection in the open air in the south of England, by 
therein planting them, covering the beds during severe 
frost or very wet weather. 
kinds in Devonshire, in small beds filled to the depth of 
two feet with a compost of two parts sandy peat, one part 
fine river sand, and one part rich garden soil, of a loamy 
nature. The tough roots contained in the peat were laid 
beds the plants will require no further care, except in 
winter. They do not generally suffer from the cold, but 
from the wet, or from the effects of the sun following a 
severe frost, 
first planting, as many of the species are very apt to rot if 
removed ; it is, therefore, obviously undesirable that any 
of enriching the soil is to thatch the beds with straw, and 
No other manure should ever 
leaves sprout in autumn, and will not 
frost ; they must, therefore, be grown under glass, or not 
at all. Certain other kinds require a very much more 
sandy soil, and will not thrive even in a sandy peat; but 
as these peculiarities can only be discovered by extensive 
cultivation of the species, I will mention a few of my 
results derived from the cultivation of upwards of a 
hundred. The greatest difference in constitution observ- 
able among the individuals of any one of the genera is in 
Gladiolus. All the common kinds may be grown as J 
recommend; but to grow alatus, viperatus, roseus, 
debilis, versicolor, and probably some others which I 
have never possessed, you must have a bed of nearly pure 
sand from the more barren parts of heaths. In a pure 
white sand of great depth I have seen roseus (which is a 
variety of hirsutus) 5 feet high, with 13 flowers on the 
stem ; while in a soil still very sandy, but which would 
slightly bind, it would not grow 18 inches, and produced 
only about 5 flowers. Watsonia gracilis and most of the 
varieties of G. hirsutus flower very early in the spring, and 
therefore cannot be grown in the open air: they also like 
sand, On the contrary, Natalensis will grow well in 
ordinary rich soil of any kind, and oppositiflorus and its 
hybrids in a soil of light peat mixed with loam in about 
equal proportions. In such a soil I have grown the hybrid 
Natalensis oppositiflorus or Gardinensis nearly 6 feet 
high, bearing 22 flowers on the main stem, and having 5 
Jateral branches. Almost all Ixias, Sparaxis, Tritonias, 
and Moreeas, may be grown in the ordinary Gladiolus 
compost; but the Trichonemas, Lapeyrousias,and Babianas, 
require sand. Watsonias and Antholyzas are not par- 
ticular in their soil, but are difficult to cultivate in Eng- 
land, because they either sprout in the. autumn or are 
evergreen; and their leaves will not bear frost, which, 
although it will not kill -the roots, will prevent their 
flowering by destroying the leaves. I would observe that 
the sand of which I speak must be the sand from the 
surface of peaty heaths : it must neither be red nor yellow, 
nor must it be taken from beneath the surface, but must 
be a fine sharp white sand, rendered of a greyish colour 
by the admixture of a very small quantity of peat. 
imagine that the oxide of iron, which forms the colouring 
matter of the red or yellow sands, is very prejudicial to 
these roots ; but if all the poor soils in the neighbourhood 
of the cultivator should be coloured, let him carefully 
Scrape up the mere loose surface, which will always be 
much purer than the body of the soil, and will rarely injure 
any plants.—J. C. B. 
Blackberry Jelly—Put the fruit into ajar, tie paper 
over it, and stew in a saucepan of boiling water, or by 
putting the jar into the oven; strain off the liquor, and 
to every pint of stewed fruit add a pound of loaf-sugar : 
put all into a preserving pan, simmer and skim it. When 
it will jelly upon a plate, it is fit to be put into jars for 
use.— Warwickshire. [This is very delicate and ex- 
cellent. ] 
Prolific Potatoes.—A friend of mine sent me 
Potato in April, and mentioned at the same time that it 
was avery prolific variety. The Potato weighed about 
6 oz. I planted it whole, and last week took up the pro- 
duce, which weighed 29]bs., and consisted of 66 Potatoes, 
26 of the largest weighing 21lbs. The above is the largest 
return I have ever seen.— Wm. Thomson, 
Circulating Hot-water in Flues.—1 beg to state that 
the system of heating houses by hot-water circulating in 
brick-flues is, after all, but a modification of the steam- 
system, with this difference, that steam does not traverse 
so rapidly as the thin stratum of water used in these flues ; 
for the cold air, not only in the iron-pipes, but that about 
them, condenses the steam, until the resisting force of the 
air is overcome. Limited as the quantity of water is, it 
has another advantage over steam, and that is, that it 
retains heat longer; and what is wanting in quantity as 
compared with other systems of heating by hot-water, is 
made up by the brick-flues retaining their heat for a con- 
siderable time after the fire has been withdrawn. The 
vapour and heat which rise from the surface of the 
water will be emitted into the house together, both up- 
wards and downwards; the moisture may not always be 
visible on the plants, unless the covers are in part removed, 
or have apertures in them. In this case a diminished 
temperature in the flues will ensue, and consequently less 
power to resist the cold air. In whatever way the heat 
may escape from these flues, condensation will take place 
at the glass, and would do so even lower down in the 
house, if the temperature was low. I see that this system 
of heating is carried on very extensively.—C. 
Water a Non-conductor of Heat.—I beg to state that 
I never anticipated Mr. Beaton would tell us (as he has 
done in the Calendar, lately) that water is a powerful 
non-conductor of heat, and that heated water will glide 
along on the surface of cold water without communicating 
any heat to it; in fact, from his statement, we are to 
consider them as two distinct strata, something similar to 
what may be seen in the fat of soap in water, when an 
acid unites with its alkali. But this is not the case, for 
water is a conductor of heat, and for an exemplification of this 
we have only to turn our attention to the great ocean when 
the noonday sun is shining upon it, to be convinced of 
the fact. Water is a slight conductor, and the omission of 
the fact that it is so may induce defective ideas on heating. 
It is on account of this that I have noticed it— C. 
Manuring Strawberries.—There appears an undue 
fear of manuring Strawberries. I have read somewhere 
that all plants that throw out suckers or runners rapidly 
deteriorate the soil, and that a power of escape to new 
ground is given by the runners. If this is correct, it is a 
reason for the good results I have always seen of manure. 
How rarely, except where Strawberries are grown for 
profit, do we see room enough given. Beds of Straw- 
(bear any severe | berries are objectionable for ‘this reason, and it is this 
couse rather than manure that leaves are more abundant 
than fruit. I have tried and proved this. Where Straw- 
berries are grown for profit, (that is, grown at all in the 
true sense,) they should be planted in rows—the large 
sorts not less than 30 inches in the row, and 15 inches 
from plant to plant, and no runners suffered to remain. 
By these means, with deep trenching and early planting, 
any sort worth cultivating may be grown large and abund- 
antly.—W. M. 
COUNTRY SHOWS. 
Forres and N Torticultural Society, October 13.—This was 
he Autumn Exhibition. The display of fruits was very fine, as 
was also the vegetables. The following prizes were awarded :— 
20 Dahlias, 1, MrP. Wall, gr tothe Hon. Sir W. G. G. Cum 
Bart., for Lee’s Bloomsbury, President of the West, 
Noir, Birmingham Premier, Marquess of Lothian, Sparry’s Admi- 
rable, Emulator, Advancer, Yellow Defiance, Yellow 
Burnham Hero, Oscar, Stella, Prince Albert, Wi 
Frederick the Great, Bedford Surprise, Sir Frederick Johnston, 
Phenomenon, Argo; 2, Mr A. Brander, gr to N. M‘Leod, 
s 
Suffolk Hero, Rienzi, Ansel’s Unique, Cox’s Yellow. Defiance; 
Argo, Mackenzie’s Perfection, Scarlet Eclipse, 
Le Grand Baudine, Scarlet Defiance, Grace Darling, Indispensable, 
in, Admira- 
4 Mr J. M‘Lean, gr to 
C. St. John, Esq. 6 Marigolds, 1, Mr J. M‘Culloch; 2, Mr J. 
Nimmo, gr to Miss Cumming. 6 Asters, 1, Mr J. M‘Culloch; 2% 
Mr P. Hall. 6 Stocks, 1, MrJ. Hopkirk, gr to Major C. Bruce, M.P. 
2, Mr A. Brander. 12 Har r 
Mackintosh, Esq, ; 2, MrJ. Nimmo. 6 Petunias, 1, Mr P. M'Intosh, 
‘uchsias, 1, Mr P. 
1 
Gauld; 2, Mr P. M‘Intosh. 6 Hardy Perennial Herbaceous 
Eugene Pirolle, Grandiflora, Noisette grandiflora, Marie Louise; 
Noisette multiflora, Crimson China; 2, Mr P. Hall, for Septimum 
Suxtile Hybrid, Phoenix, Bon Genevieve, Madame Casper, Jaun@ 
recently introduced, Mr A 
tastefully arranged Bouquet of Flowers of Hardy Plants, 1, Mt C+ 
Findlay ; 2, Mr J. Nimmo. 
lay; 2, Mr A. Brander. 
Findlay; 2, Mr A. Brander. 6 Peaches, 1, Mr A, M‘Kill 
‘olonel Gordon ; 2, Mr P. Hall. 6 Apricots, 1, Mr C 
2, MrJ.M‘Lean, Melon, 1, Mr P. M‘T 
Heaviest Melon, 1, Mr P. M‘Intosh ; 2, MrC, Findlay. 
Mr C, Findlay. 
Gauld. 9 Summer Pears, 3 varie 
M‘Culloch, 6 Apples, 2 varieties, 1, Mr P. Hall; 2, Mr 
mperial quart of Gooseberries, 1, Mr J+ 
12 Plums, 
Gauld ; 2, Mr J. Duncan. 
Mr W. Milne. 
of Echites suberecta, and to Mr P. Hal 
Fruit, Grapes, Nectarines, Apricots, Peaches, Plums, Pears, &¢+ 
Standishii, Cooperii, insignis, Youellii; several cases of Carnd- 
tions and Stocks, and a stand of Dahlias of 40 blooms, From 
Dalvey were Lycopodium denticulatum stoloniferum, 
Cattleya Harrisonii, Nepenthes distillatoria, Thanbergia alata, 
aurantiaca, and leucantha, i i i 
Standishii, conspicua arborea, Chandlerii, Youelli, Dalveyands 
grandiflora, Laneii, and Moneypennii; two small Bouquets © 
Pears, 
From Kelugas were several well-grow? 
Fuchsias. From Cluny Cottage were Sollya heterophylla, Yellow 
China Rose, Potentilla Hopwoodiana, Agapanthus umbellatus. 
Origanum dictamnus, &c. Dr. inds sent 
; ¢ ich we have been supplied; but we give 
up in despair the correction of the blunders in the names.] 
_ lampstead Florists? Society, Sept. 19.—This was the last exhi- 
bition for this season. The who 
aultia form osa, Rondeletia odorata, Mirbelia: Spe. Philibertia ier 
corymbosa, 
pentaphyllum, Mahernia pinnata, Chironia frutescens, Vinc® 
